10 to Remember: Fall 2014
December 12, 2014
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
This fall saw the start of numerous championship legacies all over the Michigan, the continuation of a few more and the end of one that likely will be recalled for decades to come.
All championship runs are memorable for those fortunate enough to achieve them. But because of historical reference, dramatic impact or in rare cases national significance, some stay in our discussions a little bit longer.
Below is one person’s thoughts on the most memorable finishes from this fall’s MHSAA Finals.
10. Novi, East Kentwood Rise to the Top
Among a number of first-time champions this fall, the Novi boys tennis team and East Kentwood girls golf team celebrated taking final steps after some recent close misses. Novi had finished second at the 2013 Lower Peninsula Division 1 Final, by a point, as Ann Arbor Huron won its third straight title. The Wildcats clinched their first ever this season, by eight points, while the East Kentwood golfers finished 22 strokes better than their LP Division 1 field after finishing 10th and sixth the last two seasons, respectively. Senior Emily White capped her high school career with a 51-foot putt to win the individual title.
9. Saline Clinches on Final Swim
The Saline girls swimming and diving team trailed reigning champion Farmington Hills Mercy by a half-point entering the final event of the LP Division 1 Final. But the Hornets outpaced Mercy by three seconds in the 400-yard freestyle relay to move ahead and claim the team championship by 5.5 points. Saline had finished runner-up to Mercy by 20 points in 2013.
8. St. Mary’s Football Keeps Promise
From an incredible story point of view, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 7-0 win over Muskegon in the Division 3 Football Final was easily the most memorable of the fall. Showing immense courage, Eaglets running back Brandon Adams took the field only two days after his mother died after fighting cancer. He scored the game’s lone points midway through the first quarter.
7. Kestrels Give Coach Best Retirement Gift
Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central’s Diane Tuller coached teams to 595 wins over 17 seasons – and in her final match took the Kestrels to their fifth MHSAA championship. St. Mary downed Schoolcraft in four sets despite dropping the first to claim its third Class C title in five seasons. The Kestrels became the eighth team to win at least five MHSAA titles, claiming all five under Tuller’s guidance.
6. Concord’s Hersha Joins Elite Company
Only 14 runners in MHSAA boys cross country history have won at least three individual championships. Concord’s Jason Hersha became the latest, claiming the LP Division 4 title in 15:23.0, the second-fastest time in LP Division 4 Finals history. He became only the third to win three boys titles since team and individual qualifiers began running the same race in 1996; he also finished first as a sophomore and junior.
5. Canton Never Loses on Division 1 March
Just one on-target kick can change a soccer game. That makes Canton’s undefeated run to this season’s Division 1 boys championship even more impressive. Finishing without a loss in any sport is something – but the Chiefs defeated Rochester Adams 1-0 in the Final to end 24-0-3 and as the 13th undefeated champion in MHSAA boys soccer history. Canton posted 16 shutouts this fall.
4. Spring Lake Surges to First Championship
Despite trailing annual power Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood by six strokes after the first round, Spring Lake rolled through the second at the LP Division 3 Girls Golf Final to best the field by a final margin of 18 strokes and claim the school’s first MHSAA golf championship. The achievement was a crowning one for the program started by George Bitner, who has coached at the school since 1968 and fielded his first girls team in 1980.
3. Fisher Finishes Among Fastest in MHSAA History
Grand Blanc senior Grant Fisher finished his high school career with a second straight Lower Peninsula Division 1 championship – and the third-fastest time since the Finals moved to Michigan International Speedway 19 seasons ago. Fisher finished in 14:52.5, 1.5 seconds off the second-fastest time in MHSAA Finals history since 5K (3.1 miles) became the distance in 1980. The only runners who have come in faster than Fisher went on to the Olympics (Dathan Ritzenhein) and top American finishes (twice) at the Boston Marathon (Jason Hartmann).
2. St. Philip Stands Alone with 9 Straight Titles
Battle Creek St. Philip continued its near-decade dominance of Class D, but this time with another historical twist. The Tigers downed Leland in four sets in this season’s Final to win their ninth straight MHSAA championship – setting a record for consecutive titles after formerly being tied with the Marysville teams from 1997-2004. St. Philip entered the postseason ranked No. 3 in D but defeated both No. 2 Mendon and the top-ranked Comets during the final week.
1. Monroe St. Mary Ends Ithaca’s Record Run
Much of the credit for this topping the list goes to Ithaca, which brought a 69-game winning streak into the Division 6 Football Final. The streak was the longest active streak nationally among 11-player football teams, and a win would've allowed the Yellowjackets next fall an opportunity to break the MHSAA winning streak record of 72. But St. Mary controlled the clock with a workmanlike running game and held an Ithaca offense averaging 43 points to nearly a quarter of that in winning 22-12.
PHOTO: The East Kentwood girls golf team raised its first MHSAA Finals championship trophy this October. (Click for more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Century of School Sports: State's Storytellers Share Fall Memories
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 15, 2024
The story of school sports always has been, and remains, one of its most valuable commodities – a collection of memories tying together generations who have learned, competed and endured with their classmates, representing their communities over the 100-year history of the Michigan High School Athletic Association.
High School sports in Michigan have had the great benefit of being featured prevalently in the state’s media going back to their start – first in the local newspaper, then over the local radio airwaves, followed by local TV stations and now joined by an online presence allowing anyone from anywhere to keep up with their favorite school team.
Once per season – Fall, Winter and Spring – during this 2024-25 “Century of School Sports” celebration, we’ll feature memories from several of our state’s storytellers who have played major roles in getting out the good word on school sports. Below is our first edition, taken from a survey of more than 20 media members past and present along with our longtime MHSAA historian and staff communications specialist.
Dad Role Provides Perspective for Role as Storyteller
Jack Doles, WOOD TV (Grand Rapids)
I have been covering high school sports in the state of Michigan since 1987. I have seen some of the most incredible games played at the Silverdome and Ford Field in the MHSAA football state championships. Nothing will top watching my son Tommy win a state championship with Grand Rapids Christian in 2012. They beat Orchard Lake St. Mary's in overtime 40-37. Drake Harris, who would go on to play football at the University of Michigan, had a game for the ages.
But the thing I'll never forget was interviewing my son afterward. I could hardly get the questions out. I wasn't the reporter for that game; that wouldn't be right. Still, I came away from that championship run with a different perspective. I saw first-hand how a school community rallies around a team. It gave me a better understanding of how we should try and cover teams and tournaments.
Sexton Takes Lansing on Unforgettable Ride
Brian Calloway, Lansing State Journal
One of the best things about high school sports is seeing teams take communities on special rides and to places they have never been before. I have seen it plenty with football teams I have covered, like Mason and Corunna last season making their historic runs to Ford Field. But the instance that stands out the most is when Lansing Sexton reached the Division 4 state championship game in 2014 under Dan Boggan. The trip ended with a 28-27 loss to Grand Rapids South Christian, but the experience marked a major moment for the Lansing School District, which has produced plenty of football talent over the years but never had any of its schools get to a football state final.
Livonia Schools Set Stage as 1st Class A Boys Soccer Finalists
Brad Emons, Detroit Free Press (formerly of Observer & Eccentric newspapers)
The first MHSAA Class A boys soccer championship game, on Nov. 6, 1982, ironically featured two Livonia schools, Stevenson vs. Churchill, at Flint’s Atwood Stadium.
Stevenson, coached by Pete Scerri and led by prolific goal scorer Gary Mexicotte, earned a 4-1 victory over the Chargers.
Reese Refuses to Let Championship Party End
Rob Kaminski, MHSAA communications coordinator since 1999
In a sport that has seen a host of repeat champions and schools with numerous Finals appearances, it’s a school that had only one shot at the Finals and made the most of it against long odds that comes to mind: The 2021 Reese Rockets.
The Rockets, in fact, had only reached the MHSAA Semifinals one other time (2010), and coach Angie Compton’s team was facing a tall task being asked to dethrone two-time defending champion Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central in the Division 3 championship match. SMCC was making its 11th Finals appearance. Before reaching the Final, however, Reese was extended to four sets in a thrilling 25-20, 25-18, 23-25, 28-26 victory over Muskegon Western Michigan Christian.
Facing the perennial power Kestrels the next day, Compton’s team appeared to be running on empty as SMCC took the first two sets, 25-18, 25-19. Unfazed, and actually singing and dancing to music blaring over the public address system during each break in the action, Reese pounded out a 25-25 win in set 3 and put the champs on the ropes with a 25-21 win in set 4 to tie the match, 2-2.
The Rockets would have to battle back from one last deficit, trailing in the see-saw fifth set, 9-7, before capping the Cinderella season on the second championship point of the night as senior Maddi Osantowski and junior Abby Karst combined for a block for a 16-14 victory. Osantowski finished with 34 kills and totaled 110 attack attempts while setter Aydan Dalak had 42 assists.
Muskegon Reminds Us that It’s Never ‘Game Over’
Ron Pesch, MHSAA historian
Part of a rare double bill hosted at MSU's Spartan Stadium, the 2008 Muskegon-Davison Division 2 Semifinal provided countless Big Reds fans with the opportunity to depart early. And many did.
Everything that could go wrong did go wrong for unbeaten, top-ranked, and heavily-favored Muskegon. Turnover after turnover – six in total, including two muffed punts – aligned with a stellar performance by Davison's sophomore quarterback, Jake Thompson, and an opportunistic Cardinals squad. Davison led 21-13 at the half, 35-13 with 4:45 to play in the third quarter, and 35-19 with under five minutes remaining when a blown defensive assignment allowed Muskegon to cut the margin to 35-25 on a 77-yard TD pass. But a failed 2-point conversion meant the Big Reds still needed two scores.
For several in the press box, as well as the great majority in the stands, it was game over. However, in a game filled with life lessons, Muskegon's recovery of a pair of onside kicks – with touchdowns to follow – made the Big Reds’ eventual 38-35 victory the most improbable of improbable comebacks in MHSAA playoff history. It's still stunning to watch.
Good-bye to Legendary Program, Legendary Coach
Brad Emons, Detroit Free Press (formerly of Observer & Eccentric newspapers)
In the final year of Farmington Hills Harrison before it closed its doors, the state’s all-time winningest coach with a career record of 443-112-1 saw his team surrender a 14-7 fourth-quarter lead and fall in a Division 4 Regional Final at home to Chelsea, 21-14, on Nov. 11, 2018.
Afterward, legendary Harrison coach John Herrington addressed the media and said, “The only thing I thought about was Don Meredith and Monday Night Football. He used to say, ‘Turn out the lights, the party is over.’ I guess that’s my quote.” Herrington finished his career at Harrison with 34 playoff appearances, 13 state titles and five runner-up finishes from 1970-2018.
Mercy Completes Miracle at Calihan Hall
Mick McCabe, Detroit Free Press since 1970
(From its start as an MHSAA-sponsored sport in 1973 through 2006, girls basketball was played during the fall.)
On Dec. 11, 1982, the Flint Northern girls basketball team was well on its way to making MHSAA history. After three quarters the Vikings, who were attempting to become the first girls team to win five consecutive state championships, led upstart Farmington Hills Mercy by 19 points.
With less than seven minutes remaining the lead was 18 points, and Mercy was in trouble. Left with no alternative, Mercy applied a full-court trapping press and suddenly Northern began turning the ball over like crazy. The Marlins got within five when sophomore Amy DeMattia (13 points, 10 rebounds) scored three straight baskets to give Mercy the lead while Northern, which had 31 turnovers, responded with four consecutive turnovers. Sophomore Annette Ruggiero came up with a key steal and hit a free throw for a two-point lead and then another sophomore, Mary Rosowski, nailed a clutch free throw with 11 seconds left to seal the deal – a 61-58 win over the Vikings.
Junior Sarah Basford led Mercy with 20 points. Mercy started one senior, one junior and three sophomores, and the Marlins may have been too naive to realize they were supposed to be intimidated by Northern. After the final buzzer sounded, Mercy coach Larry Baker looked like he was in a daze as he wandered around the court repeating: “I don’t believe it ... I don’t believe it.” Neither did anyone else.
Grand Ledge Refuses to Lose in 1st Football Finals Trip
Tim Staudt, WILX (Lansing), in 53rd year of broadcasting
(Trailing 14-7 against Utica Eisenhower with less than a minute to play in the 2000 Division 1 football championship game, Grand Ledge scored 12 unanswered points – beginning with a 5-yard touchdown run by Matt Bohnet with 53 seconds to play, followed by an onside kick recovered by the Comets’ Collin O’Keefe, which led to a 45-yard game-winning scoring pass from Bohnet to Tim George with 22 seconds remaining. The 19-14 win gave Grand Ledge its first football Finals championship, notable as well as the team was coached by Pat O’Keefe, who at one time had the record for most baseball coaching wins in state history and remains second on that list.)
One of the most remarkable comebacks in state finals football history was when Grand Ledge came back to defeat Utica Eisenhower at the Silverdome, rallying to win the Division 1 state championship under coach Pat O’Keefe in 2000.
Even for Those Disappointed, 8-Player Final Tremendous
Greg Miller, formerly of 9&10 News (Cadillac)
I had the misfortune of covering a great deal of sad state championship games where our local team would fall to a team from downstate. Few were more heartbreaking than the 2012 8-Player Football Final (the second year a state championship was awarded in 8-player football) at Greenville High School's beautiful football stadium.
The Bellaire Eagles had a 6-0 halftime lead but fell behind when Deckerville scored twice in the third quarter. The Eagles would try to rally in the fourth quarter, and eventually hit a massive touchdown pass with less than a minute to play to pull within a 2-point conversion of tying the game and likely sending it to overtime. Alas, the 2-point try failed, and the subsequent onside kick was unlucky as well.
As a bit of an introduction to a new brand of football that allowed so many small schools across the state to keep playing the game, it was a tremendous game – even if the team I was there to cover came up two points short.
Power of DeYoung’s 42 Resonates for Mourning Champion
Jack Doles, WOOD TV (Grand Rapids)
Back in 2002, the South Christian Sailors had a fantastic team. They were very talented and tight knit. During the playoffs, in the week of the Semifinals, one of their teammates, Derek DeYoung was killed in a car accident. At the urging of his father, a pastor, the Sailors decided to continue to play.
Derek wore number 42, and they scored 42 points in a win over Caro in the Semifinal. After the game, both teams and fans gathered together on the field and took a knee and prayed.
The Sailors then had to go to a funeral for their friend and teammate, and then prepare for a state championship game. Instead of being distracted, they came out focused and on a mission. Derek's brother wore his jersey with the #42 and led the Sailors onto the field. They hammered Riverview and won the state championship. Late in the game, they kicked a field goal that would give them 42 points. There wasn't a dry eye in the house. Another incredible memory from covering high school sports.
Previous "Century of School Sports" Spotlights
Oct. 8: Guided by 4 S's of Educational Athletics - Read
Oct. 1: Michigan Sends 10 to National Hall of Fame - Read
Sept. 25: MHSAA Record Books Filled with 1000s of Achievements - Read
Sept. 18: Why Does the MHSAA Have These Rules? - Read
Sept. 10: Special Medals, Patches to Commemorate Special Year - Read
Sept. 4: Fall to Finish with 50th Football Championships - Read
Aug. 28: Let the Celebration Begin - Read
PHOTOS (Top) Clockwise from top left: Farmington Hills Mercy's Sarah Basford directs the offense during a 1982 Class A Semifinal against Lansing Everett. (2) Lansing Sexton's cheerleaders await their football team's entrance at Ford Field. (3) Farmington Hills Harrison football coach John Herrington sends a play in with quarterback Drew Stanton. (4) Reese volleyball players dance together during a break in the 2021 Division 3 Final. (5) The 1982 Livonia Stevenson boys soccer team takes a team photo used in the MHSAA Book of Champions. (Middle) Livonia Stevenson players carry their championship trophy after winning the 1982 Class A soccer title at Atwood Stadium. (Below) Members of the 1982 Farmington Hills Mercy girls basketball team pose for a team photo. (MHSAA file photos.)